Separation pangs drive lesbian couple to suicide

Ahmedabad Mirror | Jun 12, 2018, 02.00 AM IST

Notes scribbled by them on the riverfront wall (above) and on a paper plate (right)

Itwas probably the realisation that their love would not find acceptance in the society that pushed two women to suicide. Riverfront (West) police recovered bodies of the women and a three-year-old girl from the riverfront near Ellisbridge on Monday morning. Investigation on the basis of suicide notes indicated the women were in a lesbian relationship and had allegedly committed suicide as they feared they would not be allowed to live together. The minor was the daughter of one of the women. A case of suicide and murder has been registered against the women.

As per case details, around 8 am on Monday, the police received a message about the three bodies. They informed the fire brigade which retrieved the bodies. Police also found some notes on the riverfront wall and on a paper plate.

Both had been written with a lipstick. As per the writing in Gujarati, they had tried to live together, but could not and that they hoped to be together in their next birth.

The police also found a mobile phone nearby. They called the last dialed number and got the contact numbers of the relatives of the women. After getting the police’s call, Ranjit Thakor (25), resident of Jalalpur village of Ahmedabad district, and others reached the spot and identified the women as Asha Thakor (30), resident of Ghanshyam Residency in Bavla and Bhavna Thakor (28), resident of Rajoda village near Bavla. The minor was identified as Megha, Asha’s daughter.

According to Ranjit, who is Asha’s brother-in-law, the trio had been missing since June 8 and their families had been constantly trying to locate them for last two days.

In his statement to the police, Ranjit said that Asha and Bhavna met each other a year ago at a private company near Bavla where they had taken up jobs. Their increasing proximity even resulted in fights within their families.

Ranjit added, “My sister-in-law lived in Bavla with my brother and two daughters. She used to fight with my brother over some issues. A few days ago, she left from home with three-year-old Megha. Around the same time, Bhavna left her home.”

Bharat Thakor, Bhavna’s uncle, said, “Her husband Kanti Thakor had died four days ago under suspicious conditions. She had been working at private factory where their relationship must have begun.”

MS Singh, inspector of Riverfront (west) police station, said “We have started our probe on the basis of the suicide notes. However, we will also investigate other angles too. ”

‘Sad that society does not accept such relationships’

Activists working for the cause of LGBT community have expressed anguish at the incident.

Sylvester from Lakshya told Mirror, “It’s very sad that in the 21st century, the women died for the only reason that they could not be together. It is time for a change in the perception of relationship between two women or two men. They too are human beings like others.”

Sociologist Guarang Jani said, “Even now our culture and society do not accept the relationship between two women or two men. The lack of acceptance to their relationship may have pushed the women to the brink. The government needs to remove section 377 of IPC as it hurts the LGBT community.”

Even now our culture and society do not accept the relationship between two women or two men. The government needs to remove section 377 of the IPC